Heavy Rain: Is it better in the original French? (Spoilers may be present)

[Strudel]

I played Heavy Rain, and I enjoyed it a lot. But as many reviewers noted, it's got a few flaws. I'm of the opinion that you only notice them because the whole package is pretty good, but it seems to me that a lot of the script and voice issues may very well be language related. I realize that not all the actors are French, but a good number of them seem to be and David Cage's first language is French. Quantic Dream is a French studio. The game's largest market might be English-speaking, but they did go to the trouble to translate it into a few different language and some of the dialogue sounded like it was a victim of English as a second language. I have to imagine Cage writes better in his native tongue.

For example, there's a scene where Madison tells Ethan, "They're painkillers. They kill the pain." I have a feeling it's a different line in the French dub - or at least less awkward.

So, are there any people on here who are fluent (preferably as a first language) in French who have an opinion on the subject? While I'm asking, the opinion of any Japanese, Spanish, etc. gamers would be nice.

This is only really a thread for people who actually enjoyed the game. Please don't come here to bash it, because there are plenty of places I could go to in order to waste time. I'm curious as to whether or not language issues actually made it a weaker game.

Feel free to discuss any plot points or specific dialogue you like.

 

[Nomanslander]

I noticed the french accent myself but it never bother me much....=/

Sure it made me smirk a little, but in no way did it degrade the experience.

 

[Strudel]

I'm not referring to accents, though those are present and occasionally weird. It's the writing. Some of the actors don't really have an accent, or at least not one that interferes.

But say, the use of the word "wasteland". It seems like that might be a mistranslation. Maybe it means something different to a French speaker. They seem to be using "wasteland" instead of "vacant lot," which I will admit doesn't sound dramatic and may not exist as a phrase or word in other languages.

 

[Strudel]

Heh. I know, but when was the last time you gave a bottle of them to an adult and restated their name? I'm not saying issues were a deal breaker. I just wonder if they were completely non-existent in the French version.

 

[Nomanslander]

Idk, after seeing some FF13 cutscenes with the dialogue in that game, I really can't complain about HR...lol

As for the lines, funny enough I also noticed hearing "wastelands," I still got what they meant though.

Anyways, maybe the people in that town called that spot the wastelands....??

 

[Tdc2182]

I'm one of the very few people who think that the voices were unique and enjoyable. I thought Norman Jayden had an engaging voice, which is funny seeing how he is the most hated voice actor.

 

[Nomanslander]

I'm one of the very few people who think that the voices were unique and enjoyable. I thought Norman Jayden had an engaging voice, which is funny seeing how he is the most hated voice actor.

Might have something to do with the whole "JaSON, JaassSONNN" part...lol

 

[Strudel]

I'm not trying to criticize the voices...really, I have no problems with them! I just wonder if it's BETTER in the "original" language (as an aside, I'll be very interested to see sales numbers, but even more interested to see a sales breakdown by country/region). I hope a francophone can come along and answer my burning question.

 

[Tdc2182]

I'm one of the very few people who think that the voices were unique and enjoyable. I thought Norman Jayden had an engaging voice, which is funny seeing how he is the most hated voice actor.

Might have something to do with the whole "JaSON, JaassSONNN" part...lol

God that shout was so bad. That is where I find sympathy with the haters.

 

[BeeRye]

Might have something to do with the whole "JaSON, JaassSONNN" part...lol

JASOOOOON!
http://www.heavy.com/post/press-x-to-jason-the-game-4539

On topic, I get what you mean, some of the lines seemed a bit stilted when I imagine they probably weren't in the original French. I suppose this is to be expected though, and it didn't even dent the enjoyment for me. As for the accents, I actually enjoyed them especially Jayden's. The only accent that I didn't like was Lauren's, but it was more something about the accent not matching up to her face (I thought her jaw movement was strange when compared to what she actually said too, but that might just be me being an idiot).

 

[Citizen.Erased]

I played the game in english and a lot of the characters annoyed me, it wasn't anything major, but the dialogue of both Mars children really bugged me. I was kinda glad when I came to the mall scene.
Then I played it a second time in french and while it wasn't top-notch writing, I found it a lot more tolerable and even liked Ethan if only because he had a really nice voice. And Shaun and Jason were also a lot easier not to hate.

I usually do not like games in french, but I thought that it was an improvement in this case.

 

[Strudel]

How fluent are you?

 

[The_Echo]

I'm one of the very few people who think that the voices were unique and enjoyable. I thought Norman Jayden had an engaging voice, which is funny seeing how he is the most hated voice actor.

I agree. I never noticed faults in the voice acting. Well, besides "Jaaasonn! JASON!!" and the painkiller bit. Other than that, the dialogue was great in my opinion. None of the character's voices annoyed me or anything, either.

 

[SimuLord]

To be fair, painkillers do kill the pain. Fact.

Indeed. There's something very "(adjective) (noun) is (adjective)" Internet meme about that line.

 

[Felipe Bravo Piedrahita]

Has anyone played the game with French dialogues and their native language subtitles? I was thinking of replaying it with spoken French and maybe Spanish subtitles (my native language) cause maybe the translation to Spanish might be a bit more correlated.

 

[hazabaza1]

Has anyone played the game with French dialogues and their native language subtitles? I was thinking of replaying it with spoken French and maybe Spanish subtitles (my native language) cause maybe the translation to Spanish might be a bit more correlated.

I don't think it being in French would stop the massive gaping plot-holes and (from what I understand) janky gameplay.